Foothill League swimming: Saugus shows its strength

Centurion girls are led by freshman Abbey Weitzeil’s record-breaking performance

Saugus High’s Abbey Weitzeil swims the last leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay against Canyon High on Wednesday. Weitzeil set a league record in the 100 free.

Saugus freshman Abbey Weitzeil’s Foothill League record-breaking swim in the 100-yard freestyle highlighted the Centurions’ sweep of Canyon High on Wednesday afternoon at the Santa Clarita Aquatics Center.

The Saugus girls defeated Canyon 110-60, while the Saugus boys won 95-75.

In the 100 free, Weitzeil touched in 51.02 seconds, breaking the previous league record of 51.83 set in 2009 by Hart’s Chelsea Griffiths.

Weitzeil’s time was the only CIF-Southern Section Division I automatic qualifying time of the meet.

“From day one, (Weitzeil) got up there and made a point,” said Saugus head coach Vicky Donnelly, who said Weitzeil likes to try and fly under the radar.

“But it’s hard to not notice her,” Donnelly added.

It’s hard to not notice the rest of the Saugus squad, too.

The Centurion girls (5-0 overall, 2-0 Foothill League) won all but one event on the day, with Katy Sonksen achieving a CIF-SS consideration time in the 200 free and Kristin Threw hitting a consideration time in the 100-yard backstroke. Caitlin Baker had a consideration time in the 100-yard breaststroke.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” Donnelly said. “My girls are working hard, from top to bottom. We all understand we’re working toward a bigger purpose this season and everyone is doing their part.

The Canyon girls (3-2, 0-2) had one win, which came in the 200-free relay, when the Cowboys’ A team of Karina Rodgers, Amber Wyatt, Autumn Wyatt and Shayla Austin won with a consideration time of 1 minute, 47.05 seconds. The foursome also hit a consideration time in the 400-free relay.

Austin also had consideration times in the 200 free and 100 free.

“We did well overall,” said Canyon head coach Steve Himes. “But a couple races, I wish we had more depth, which we didn’t have today. We swam well overall, though. I knew Saugus was going to be strong, but we still have a lot of work to do and we’re doing it.”

The boys meet was closer, but Saugus (4-1, 2-0) held on to its victory by closing out the meet with four straight victories.The Centurions’ 400-free relay team of Alex Chan, Christopher Doyle, Justin Lee and Jonathan Morsch ended the meet by winning in 3:27.28.

Lee, Chan and Morsch each won both of their individual races as well, with Lee taking first in the 200 free and 100-yard backstroke, Morsch winning the 200 individual medley and 100-yard butterfly, and Chan winning the 50 free and 100 free.

Morsch won the 200-yard IM with a consideration time of 2:02.34.

Matt Howard swam a consideration time for the Canyon boys team (2-3, 0-2) when he finished first in the 500 free with a time of 4:58.21.

Both squads will race this Saturday at the Santa Clarita Valley Invitational at the Santa Clarita Aquatics Center.